Sisko doesn't know whether to go through with his marriage to Kasidy or not now that the Prophets have told him that he will experience nothing but sorrow if he does so. Kai Winn arrives on the station to preside over the ceremony, and Sisko comes clean to her that the wedding probably won't happen. Finally he admits to Kasidy that he can't go against the Prophets, and she takes it hard. When Quark drops off Kasidy's non-refundable wedding ring and notes what a shame it is to let something so valuable go to waste, Sisko has a change of heart. He declares that he cannot live without Kasidy, so prophecy be damned. They wed in a small, impromptu ceremony. Just before Sisko can give his vows, the Prophets make one last effort to dissuade him, but he insists on marrying. Everyone seems happy except Kira, who knows that the will of the Prophets has been defied.
On Cardassia, Damar is becoming a drunken mess, but his mentor Dukat, still looking like a Bajoran, gives him a pep talk before leaving for Deep Space Nine. On the station, Kai Winn has a vision of what appears to be the Prophets, who tell her that she will bring forth the "Restoration" by seeking guidance from a man with the "wisdom of the land." Dukat promptly shows up claiming to be a simple farmer, and Winn latches on him as her guide. He further worms his way into her good graces by making up a story in which her actions during the occupation inadvertently saved his life. During their talks, he notes how the Emissary isn't a real Bajoran and talks about the necessity of ripping out blighted crops to start anew. When he comes to Winn claiming that his brother's crops have been miraculously restored, she takes it as a sign that they are blessed by the prophets, and the pair embrace.
On the Breen ship, Worf and Ezri stew in the brig. Ezri has a weird dream about Bashir and thinks that it might mean something, but Worf dismisses it. He seems to think that, once they get out of this, they'll be a couple, but Ezri doesn't look so sure. The Breen take Worf away and question him, leaving him temporarily delirious. They then take Ezri away. When she returns, she deliriously talks through a sex dream about Julian, prompting Worf to become jealous. When she's lucid again, he confronts her, and she admits that she finds Bashir handsome and charming. Before their lovers' spat can continue, however, the Breen arrive again and transport them all away. They arrive on Cardassia, where Weyoun announces a new treaty between the Breen and the Dominion. Ezri and Worf are handed off as gifts to seal the deal.
This episode contains examples of. . .
- Altar the Speed: Sisko arranges his wedding to Kasidy at the last minute.
- Batman Gambit: While it's not yet clear how Dukat managed to provide Kai Winn's "vision," his plan clearly counts on her snapping up the bait when he presents himself as a humble man "of the land."
- Blatant Lies: Drunk Damar's excuse for oversleeping.Damar: (hung over) I worked late last night.
Weyoun: Yes... (picks up a piece of lingerie) I see that. - Body Horror: As demonstrated by the female changeling, the disease infecting the Great Link does gnarly things to one's body.
- Call-Back:
- Ezri refers back to a few Season 7 episodes while under the influence of the Breen mind probes.
- Dukat recalls the time he spent with Damar fighting Klingons in a captured Bird of Prey.
- Did You Just Flip Off Cthulhu?: Despite the warnings of the Prophets, Sisko goes ahead with the wedding.
- Faceless Goons: The Breen, as per usual, never show their faces, and their language is incomprehensible. Ezri notes that no one has apparently ever seen a Breen's face.
- First-Name Basis: Winn gives Dukat permission to use her given name just before they embrace.
- From Bad to Worse: The episode begins with Jake and Sisko having an argument about the situation, and the Prophet's warning. Cue Kai Winn.
- Limited Wardrobe: Damar is woken up in bed after a sex-and-booze bender still wearing his full uniform.
- Married at Sea: A proud Trek tradition of getting married in space continues.
- Mind Rape: What the Breen apparently do to Worf and Ezri. Ezri is thankful that they're unconscious for it.
- Noodle Incident: Ezri mentions a couple of failed escape attempts that she and Worf made.
- Passive-Aggressive Kombat: Kai Winn asserts that the reason Sisko asked his friend Ross to officiate his wedding rather than her must have been because he assumed she wouldn't be available, but since she is available, she'll be happy to do it.
- Rescue Romance: The romance between Winn and "Anjohl" has shades of this, with him claiming that she saved his life during the occupation.
- Series Continuity Error: The dubious assertion that no one has ever seen under a Breen's helmet contradicts the episode "Indiscretion," in which two Breen get Mugged for Disguise by Kira and Dukat.
- Weird World, Weird Food: Ezri is unimpressed by the tins of algae paste that the Breen provide them.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Dukat gives Damar a pep talk that helps snap him out of his drunken stupor and back into thinking as leader of Cardassia.
- With This Ring: The Prophet chooses this moment to try to run interference on Sisko's wedding. It fails.
